CNN: The Last Place Network

It seems as though TV viewers have finally figured out CNN. For the past ten or so years CNN has trended further and further from unbiased journalism. And, at last, viewers have decided to punish the network that literally created cable news programs.

For two decades CNN did what cable news channels should --- they reported the news. When it came to the news there was no slant, no opinion, nothing but the reality of the world. They also had a few opinion-driven shows, but those programs were balanced in all respects. But then, when Fox News launched in the mid- '90s, CNN started to falter. Having another news network on cable made CNN uneasy about their status as the "trusted news leader." So, they started to experiment with more and more political programming. CNN started have mini-debates during news programs, instead of keeping those debates on the more appropriate political shows (see Capital Gang or Crossfire). Every topic had a guest or two that would battle it out. Nearly every news story was debated instead of being reported. This, not surprisingly, boosted CNN's ratings. It also gave Fox an early run for its money (and viewers).

Trying to copy CNN's change, the new kid on the block, Fox News, followed suit, adding opinion programs and debates on various news topics during straight news programs. Eventually, this change, along with faster-paced programs, beautiful on-air talent, cool graphics, and other small tweaks, pushed Fox News back into first place. But the race between Fox News and CNN  was still a photo finish most of the time.

And that remained true until the late nineties. At that time the powers that be at Fox News tried something new. They decided that having just one or two opinion shows during the day wasn't good enough. No, they found people wanted to see these shows during primetime. So Fox News made opinion-driven shows its entire primetime block (one conservative in O'Reilley, a conservative and liberal in Hannity and Colmes, and a liberal in Geraldo). The channel also added more viewer-driven shows during the day (see Dayside). But, most importantly, Fox News found that there were millions of viewers who were willing to tune in to the channel if it would present the news without the bias being shown by CNN.

By this point, CNN had hired talent who brought biased views on the news into living rooms every day. The bias, though, was still not as prevelant as the bias shown by (to this very day) ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS. CNN's hosts made sure to prop up certain politicians, defend certain political stances, and literally crusade for certain political causes. Fox News, brilliantly, "called out" the bias of CNN and other channels. Fox News promised to not have that slant (of course, the channel now has a centrist-right slant, but nothing as radical or extreme when compared to any other network --- keeping in mind the US is a center-right nation).

Then came MSNBC. MSNBC started taking viewers from CNN from day one. Poll after poll showed viewers were falling away in huge numbers.  MSNBC, a network that has been clear about its extremely liberal bias from day one, practically preyed on CNN's viewership. Every time CNN would make a change to gain back some of its viewership (crusading for Democratic stances, profiling Democratic politicians, supporting Democratic causes, hyping every single news story involving high-profile liberal issues, etc.) MSNBC would ramp up its own coverage of stories favored by its more liberal viewers.

By 2005, though, CNN's sister channel, HLN (formerly Headline News), also changed its primetime from an all-news lineup to all opinion. Originally the new opinion shows were three-to-one liberal. But at least they tried a conservative (Beck). That was true until the network bowed to liberal interest groups and let Beck go (eventually to Fox to what has now become one of that channel's highest rated shows). Now HLN is a four hour block of left-leaning programs.

So here is where we stand:

Fox News is the highest rated cable channel with a series of conservative primetime opinion shows and straight news programs with a center-right slant, with nearly 53% of news viewers in primetime.

MSNBC is in second place with a series of very liberal primetimes opinion shows, a series of liberally-slanted news programs, and a couple of straight news programs with a center-left slant, with nearly 19% of news viewers in primetime.

HLN is in third place with straight news throughout the day and a series of liberally-slanted talkshows in primetime, with nearly 15% of news viewers in primetime.

Then, last, is CNN, with about 13% of news viewers in primetime.

CNN, the former biggest name in news is now dead last. Show after show after show on CNN pushes an agenda. From "Black in America" to "Latino in America" to "CNN Heroes" to everything reported by Rick Sanchez , Anderson Cooper, Christianne Amanpour, and Anthony Ware, CNN's coverage comes from a clearly biased point of view. The network still tries to sell itself as a middle of the road network. But viewers, with their remotes, say CNN (and HLN and MSNBC) is not so middle of the road. Even the Pew Research Center, an independent and highly respected polling organization, have concluded it is not CNN, HLN, or MSNBC with the most diverse audience. Nope, its Fox News. The last Pew survey showed Fox News viewers were 38% conservative, 34% independent, and 28% liberal politically. (MSNBC is more than 65% liberal, and CNN and HLN are more than 50% liberal.)

So CNN fails as being an independent news source. The ratings and the polls show it. CNN still does not want to admit its bias. And that is its problem. This is not a liberal nation (again, this is a center-right nation). There are not enough liberal news viewers for three cable networks, three braodcast networks, and public television (plus the portion of liberal viewers who tune in to Fox for different perspectives).

Having a degree in journalism, it is sad to watch the slow, painful death of a once-great news institution. But CNN is getting what it deserves. If they would stop lying to their viewers and cop to the clear bias, CNN could rally and go after the small (but second place) audience of MSNBC.

CNN. Not a leader in news. Not even a follower.

ChrisBrad

Amazon Wishlist Issues...

About a week or so ago, I took a few minutes and really updated my Amazon wishlist. I deleted several things that, well, just aren't ever going to show up on my doorstep, and I added several DVDs that I have had my eye on for quite some time.

After my significant update I assumed all was well. But earlier today I happened to stop by my wishlist to check on a few things (hoping one or two items might have suddenly dropped in asking price), and noted that NONE of my changes from last week were there. The items I deleted were still on the list and none of the newest additions were on it.....

Odd.

So, I took another half hour (trying in vain to remember what on earth I added a week ago) and fixed it. Again.

Amazon, that love-hate thing is really getting annoying.

Just saying...

Chris-Brad